By Ikhazuagbe Ojiekere
OKADA (Sundiata Post) – The management of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, has said the institution is the first private university in Nigeria to produce a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Sundiata Post reports that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Lawrence Ezemonye, disclosed this to newsmen in Okada at a press conference as part of activities to mark the institution’s 25th anniversary as well as unveiling the anniversary logo.
He disclosed that the event, which is slated for 10 May 2024, would be graced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Special Guest of Honour; former President Goodluck Jonathan, as chairman and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, (rtd) as Guest of Honour.
He further disclosed that the school was the first private university to produce medical doctors, pharmacy and law graduates
Ezemonye said their student was also the first graduate from a private university that has attained the position of professor and a deputy vice chancellor in a university.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, who did not give the name of the university’s graduate, said he is also the youngest Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in the country.
According to him, the student was the first to obtain first class in law among the private universities and repeated the same feat at the Nigerian Law School.
“We pioneered entrepreneurship as an academic programme in Nigeria before it was adopted by the National Universities Commission (NUC), as a mandatory component of the curriculum of Nigerian universities”, he said.
Ezemonye said the occasion marks 25 years of academic excellence, advancing knowledge and creating opportunities by the university.
He noted that in the over 25 years of existence, the university has evolved into a beacon of intellectual repository, crucible for innovation and nurturing ground for future leaders and game changers.
“In 1999, history was made with the licensing of the first private university in Nigeria. That university is Igbinedion University, Okada, with registration No.01. By May this this year, it will be exactly 25 years since that epochal event.
“Since inception, the university has achieved remarkable successes in teaching, research, capacity building, innovative studies and most significantly, the production of exceptional graduates in diverse fields of human endeavours who are contributing their quota to national and global development.
“The attainment of 25 years of corporate existence is a notable landmark worthy of celebration”, he said.
Speaking on the area of research and scholarship, Ezemonye added that the College of Pharmacy of the university is into production of drug and methylated spirit while its creative hub designed and developed a 500KVA hybrid power.
The Vice Chancellor however added that legacy projects like the Igbinedion Palm oil processing mill and Igbinedion University Hotel all at Okada, would be commissioned during the anniversary celebration.
He added that several speakers would speak on the anniversary colloquium titled, ‘Re-imagining Tertiary Education for Africa’s Present and Future Realities” at the event.
